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Okay, he’s got me there.
“Chocolate?”
“I already had some for my snack.”
Got me there too.And while I’m sure I could convince him to have more, he knows my mom doesn’t like him having too much.
“What do you want to do? You name it?”
The second the words leave my mouth, I realize how dangerous they are, and the next thing you know, we’re driving down the coast toward our local indoor trampoline park, a place that absolutely terrifies me. Screaming kids, bodies flying through the air. So many ways one can injure themselves. I don’t mind Liam going to these places. I just prefer it to be on someone else’s watch. I hate the responsibility of getting him home in one piece.
“Take off your shoes, Peanut. They’re not allowed on the tramps,” Liam says before we’ve even paid to get in.
“Why would I need my shoes off?” I ask, though I recognize it’s a stupid question as soon as I say it.
Liam smiles, and I know exactly what’s about to come out of his mouth. “Because I want someone to jump with.”
Of course you do.Fuck my life.
I’m a fit guy, I exercise regularly, and I’m healthy. But by the time we finish for the day, I’m done. I can barely move.How do kids have so much energy?
The walk to the exit feels longer than it should, and I thank God I didn’t drive my dad’s manual car. I’m not sure my ankles could handle it. If today made me feel anything, it’s old. And I’m only twenty-three. I don’t know how the other parents do it. Although, I will say, most of them were drinking coffee on the sidelines.
We’ve just reached the cafe, located near the entrance—so close to our escape—when a soft hand wraps around my arm. I signal for Liam to stop walking and turn around to find a very attractive woman playing with her long copper hair, a shy smile in place.
“Can I choose a snack?” Liam says before running off to the glass display cabinets without waiting for an answer.
“I’m sorry to hold you up,” the woman says, the hand she has wrapped around me dropping from my arm. “I was watching you out there with your son, and I had to come over and tell you what an amazing dad you are.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate that,” I say, biting back a smile but not bothering to correct her, thinking I have an idea of what’s coming next.
“Your wife is a lucky woman.”Exactly what I was expecting.
“I’m not ma—”
The woman reaches out for my arm again as her eyes widen. “Oh, I’m sorry for assuming.”No, you’re not.
“It’s okay. You didn’t know.”
“Are you from around here? My son looks the same age, and I’m sure they’d get along well.”Mmm hmm.
“We’re about twenty minutes from here,” I say, ready to let her down gently. “We actually don’t come here that often.”
“That’s a shame, but maybe—”
“Dani brings me all the time,” Liam says, joining my side, and I inwardly curse becausethat’show he knows about this place. “Can I get the rainbow cookie?”
“Sure. I’ll come over now.”
He runs off again, leaving my new friend and me alone. “Sorry, I better go.”
“Of course. Maybe we can exchange numbers, just in case.”
I want to laugh because this is exactly the type of thing I would have loved to happen to me in the past. But now, I just want to go to Liam. I don’t want her number. I don’t want any of it.
“Why not,” I say anyway because I feel bad. But then I strangely add, “I can ask Dani to call you if she comes again.”I have no idea why I added that last bit. I’m definitely not passing on this number.
“Dani? Yes, sure. Is that his mom?”
